USA Today's FTW Craft Beer Bracket

founders fans vote!!!!!

 

Although there is certainly a lot of subjectivity, can we all at least agree that a Russian River/Cigar City/Founders/Alchemist Final Four makes a hell of a lot more sense than a Founders/Stone/Terrapin/Southern Tier Final Four? I'm not saying that every one is objectively the better choice, but as a whole, it seems self-evident.

 

Flawed poll. I only voted for the breweries that I've actually tried. I'm assuming a lot of other people voted the same, so it's all about distribution and favoritism. I voted for Boulevard only because I've never had a Bell's beer.

 

If it wasn't all about distribution, New Glarus would've knocked Boulevard out in the first round.

 

lol funny I can't even think of one SN beer that I like, but perhaps it's more of a personal opinion thing

 

Yes it must be. They don't make many/any top tier beers but set the example/standard for a few. SNPA is time tested and true.

 

Not going to bother.

 

Fuck it. Hill Farmstead? Toppling Goliath? Firestone Walker? Dogfish Head #1 overall seed? Russian River #3 seed (same as Ommegang??)? Ballast point same seeding as Flying Dog? Stone #5 seed (actually think this is fair, but not in line with the rest of the seeding)? This bracket subjectively sucks.

 

Yes, personal opinion matters, but so does context. I can't think of many stouts I'd drink all night long like theirs. Same with the Pale Ale and Porter. That's where they shine- beers for drinking, not just tasting.

I already listed another top tier beer in Bigfoot- nobody tops that one. Still. After 3 decades or so.

Neither brewery makes a top tier IPA/IIPA, but they both come close enough to make it a moot point. I'd also take Narwhal over anything BP makes in the high gravity stout/porter range.

To me the lagers matter- SN's may not be world class, but they are pretty good for an American brewery. Precious few others can say that. Plus, they make only one of a handful of really legit hefeweizens brewed here in the states.

SN's overriding approach is lending finesse and elegance to inherently aggressive styles- that may not appeal to everybody these days, but that's where my vote will go every time.

 

Well I blew out of that bracket early. Cost me a shit ton of $$ on the office pool

 

The best thing about this poll is that Great Lakes took out 3 Floyds in round 1.

Having a solid beer in every style, that i can actually get on any given day > making weird, sometimes alright beer and making it hard to get so people who don't know any better go crazy for it.

 

Southern Tier won it over Founders by about 2% of the votes.

 

Everyone is like, "No, we can't just enjoy a silly poll for what it is! It is either an absolute gauge of which craft brewery is the greatest or it is GARBAGE!"

 

How did 3 Floyds lose to Great Lakes? (should I insert the F word for added emphasis?) And from someone who has family in Tampa and visits there, I'm glad Cigar City is a one seed, but I hope that since they're the one seed in the South region that they are not equated with Duke. I still kinda, sorta, maybe, dislike Christian Laettner a little bit.

 

Lagunitas VS Stone is a tough call for me.

 

Lol. What a joke. Fun idea though

 

I lol'd

 

I agree SN should win this battle, due to the overall consistency, and large distro. But saying that Ballast point doesn't make a top tier IPA makes me think you've forgotten about sculpin, and Narwhal is awesome but I'd take victory at sea any day.

 

I haven't forgotten about Sculpin .

Getting real for a sec- it's a fine beer and excellent IPA, I just think it's a notch below the top level- maybe an A- beer overall.

 

at least it isn't as pathetic as the Thrillist one with Four Peaks in the Final Four, after beating Cigar City, etc.